PETER LENZ TAKES TWO AT SCMINIGP SEASON OPENER Up and coming Metrakit Canada backed mini road racer Peter Lenz took two wins and a mid-pack finish at the SCminiGP season opener this past weekend at California Speedway. Peter and his father left their home in Washington state early Friday morning arriving at the track in Southern California 1,100 miles later that evening. Their spur of the moment trip was the result of seeing the extensive pre-registration for the event, not to mention the nice weather. “SCminiGP had a very healthy grid for a season opener. We hadn’t planned on going but didn’t want to pass up the chance for Peter to run with the fast kids in Southern California,” explained Peter’s father Michael Lenz. “Unfortunately our late decision to go resulted in Peter being last on the grid in all of his classes since they grid the first race according to registration order.” With so little seat time on the new Metrakits, Peter spent most of Saturday sorting out his Metrakit MiniGP 50 and Metrakit 80 XL. “I told James (California Superbike School riding coach James Toohey) that the 50 wasn’t letting me get on the gas. The back end was sliding around on me,” commented Peter. Peter was able to provide good feedback on what the bike was doing to allow the 50 to be dialed in through simple suspension adjustments. Peter took to the Metrakit MiniGP 50 after the changes, knocking over two seconds off his fastest time of the day. What followed in the heats was nothing short of amazing. Peter pulled a Rossi and went from the very back of the grid to the lead of the race by the fourth corner. The race was a good one with Peter winning over local boy Austin DeHaven. He would pull a similar maneuver in the 65 class, where it took him half a lap to get to the front and he continued to extend his lead until the checker was thrown. Again, starting at the back of the grid, Peter had his work cut out for him in the 80 class. Having only raced a 17″ wheeled bike once before, Peter knew the race was going to be a learning experience. “I’m not really comfortable on the 80 yet, it is really high off the ground and is still a bit scary and I’m still learning. I can hold it up on the grid and switch feet without my dad holding me. I still can’t reach, but I can start and stop without help now.” explained Peter. Though Peter did move up several positions in the order he had spent the majority of his practice time setting up the 50 so the 80 wasn’t sorted enough to give Peter the confidence to push his 76cc Metrakit against the larger bikes. The main was cut short when the race was red flagged just after half distance due to Austin DeHaven breaking his arm after high-siding his 93cc RS125. The class was won solidly by Benny Solis, Jr. aboard a CRF150R powered RS125 in what turns out was Solis’ last mini race as he moves up to the USGPRU. Peter is in action again with his Metrakit’s March 17/18 in Stockton for the SMRRC season opener. You can keep up with Peter via his website: ~http://www.PeterLenz.com~ About Metrakit No other company offers young road racers the equipment, program, opportunity and relationships to achieve world-class success in road racing that is available through Metrakit and Metrakit Canada. To learn more about Metrakit visit their site at ~http://www.Metrakit.ca~. More, from a press release issued by SCminiGP: SCminiGP Youth Road Racing program signs Dainese! The southern California youth road racing program has just up the anti for youth riders racing in the premier race class the 80GP for 2007. Dainese a leader in protective safety gear has signed on for the 2007 SCminiGP Championship as a premier sponsor of the program. Dainese and the D-Store Orange County will be the “Official Safety Gear Provider” of the SCminiGP race series. Dainese is most known for its contracts with world class racers like Valentino Rossi and will offer a chance of a life time for one youth rider. The protective equipment manufacturer through support of the Orange County D-Store will provide the youth rider who takes the 80GP championship a contract sponsorship for 2008. The sponsorship will provide race leathers, racing boats, back protector, and racing gloves. “This is not the first contract we have been able to offer our riders but certainly is the best!!” says Josiah Taulbee President and Founder of the race series. The youth road racing program has developed two significant opportunities to support youth progression in road racing over the last year and this addition creates huge incentive for youth riders looking to get support as they move forward. As it stands SCminiGP has several youth riders who are currently racing in the 80GP but expect their head count to grow as the season has just began.